Razor blade sharpener



MUY M l3. w. I LJXMORE 2,008,925

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER July '16, 193.

W. LUXMOR ,008,925

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed June 4, 1934 2 SheecS-Sheet 2 Q i@ I 1 IV aingrdrawings, in which UNITED STATES? Patented July 16, 1935 PATENToFricE RAZORABLADE `SHARPLMER Application June 4, 1934, serial Nq."128,922` 16 Claims. ,(01. .t1-158)l i My invention relates to razorblade sharpeners and contemplatesthe provision of a simple and easilymanipulated mechanism. which willper` form a superior job of razor bladesharpening by causing each cutting edge which is to be sharpened totravel between a pair of opposed honing surfaces with whichsuch edgealternately has sliding contact during the movement of the blade.

Inits more preferred embodiments, my inven` tion comprises Vtwospaced-apart pairs of `elongatedl honing surfaces, the honing surfacesof each pair defining achannel adaptedto receive one of. the cuttingedges of a blade which is sup.

ported and reciprocated and otherwisemoved between said pairs of honingsurfaces, and between ment of my invention, the cover, with whichthehoning surfaces of each pair, so that each cutting edge alternatelyhas sliding contact, preferably ina line parallel to said cutting edge,withthe Vhoning surfaces of the pair between which that particular edgemoves.` 4

Other salient features of the `invention are novel devices (a) forsupporting and reciprocating ablade, (b) for moving each blade edge, byand during reciprocation, into andfout of contact with the honingsurfaces which act upon-such edge, and (c) for insuring that the bladeedges bear against their proper honing surfaces with a predeterminedproper pressure regardless of the force which is utilized inreciprocating the bladev to be shapened. i

Other features, objects and advantages of 4my invention will appear fromthe following description wherein reference is made to the accompany-Fig. l is a top plan View of a preferred embodi-y -device may beprovided, being removed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken in the Figs.` 4, 5 and 6 areviews which respectivelyY illustrate the blade 'carriage support,` theblade carriage,` and the blade holder,-these three views collectivelyshowing `the said sub-unitsx of the Sharpener in animaginar-y explodedrelationev ship;

tive base sections if desired; c b Fig. 8 is a top plan view of amodified embodiment of my invention,the major portion of the the Fig. 7is an isometric view illustrating howthe hones may be formed integralwith their respeceV y their respective base sections 26a, and 2012 inany cover being broken away to reveal parts there beneath; i Y

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section taken in the vertical plane ofthe line9- 9 `of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line Illlil ofFig. 9 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows Fig. 11 is afragmentary sectional View takenV v in the vertical plane of thelineIl-H of Fig. 9; and y f Figs. 12,` 13,V 14 and 15 are views whichrespectively illustrate the blade carriage support, the twisted portionof the operating rod, the blade carriage and the blade holden-theseviews co1- lectively illustrating the said sub-units of the' Sharpenershown in Figs. 8to 11 in an imaginary exploded relationship. j,

Similar characters'of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveralviews.

` Referring first to that embodiment of my invention which is shown inFigs. 1 to 6 inclusive,` the Sharpener comprises a base 20, and ifdesired,` a cover 2 I which is removed when the Sharpener is in use. y

I prefer that the base shall consist of two complementary sections orhalves 28a and 20h, formed from a moldable composition, such forexample, as a suitable one of the several well known moldable phenoliccondensation products; these base halves being secured together, andheld in proper alignment, by screws 22, 22 and a key 23 which is formed`on one of said halves and engages a corresponding groove in the other.i

Carried by the base'sections 20a and 201i, respectively, 'are `the hones24 and 25,-feach of these hones preferably, but not necessarily, beingin the form' of, an elongated body of natural or artificial stone. Thehones 2li and 25 are parallel, `arespaced apart horizontally, and aregroovedonltheir opposed sides to provide two spaced-apart pairs ofhoning surfaces 24a, 24h and 250i, 25h. In this embodiment of myinvention the hone grooves or channels are preferably V-shapedso thatthe honing `surfaces of each of the aforesaidpairs will diverge towardthe other pair of honingsurfaces-allof the honing surfaces beingdisposed 'at equal angles to a horizontal plane passing through theapices of said V-shaped lgrooves or channels.

While the hones4 24 and 25 may be secured to suitable manner, I find itconvenient to dovetail the' lower portions of the hones as shown and toembed them in the upper portions of the base sections when the latterare molded.

Formed in the opposed surfaces of the base sections 26a and 20h aresemi-cylindrical grooves which together constitute a cylindrical chamber26 which extends longitudinally of the base and terminates just short ofeach of its ends. Cylindrical chamber 26 opens upwardly, between thehones 24 and 25, through a slot 21,-the spacedapart surfaces of the basesections which define this slot being vertical and parallel.

The slot 21 may be extended somewhat beyond the ends of the cylindricalchamber 26, as indicated at 28 and 29 (Figs. 1 and 2) to accommodatemaximum reciprocations of the blade carriage presently to be described.Moreover, for the same purpose and also to accommodate the abutment ofthe operating rod presently to be mentioned, a small chamber 30, whichcommunicates with the cylindrical chamber 26 and slot 21, is formed inthe base sections.

I now call attention to the blade carriage support 3l which occupies andoperates in the cylindrical chamber 26 and slot 21 of the base. Thisblade carriage support, which preferably is formed of one piece ofmetal, comprises a pair of oppositely facing channels 32, 32, and acylindrically curved spring-web 33 which integrally `joins the loweredges of the channels 32, 32.

The spring web 33 occupies the cylindrical chamber 25 of the base whilechannels 32, 32 embrace and bear against those parallel verticalsurfaces of the base sections which define the slot 21. rI'he upperflanges of the channels 32, 32, which slide upon the tops of the basesections, are horizontal, while the lower flanges of said channels arecurved to bear snugly against the contiguous portions of the curved wallof cylindrical chamber 26. The pressure with which spring-web 33 urgesthe. channels 32, 32 against the walls of the slot 21 is carefullydetermined because, as will hereinafter be explained, it is thispressure of channels 32,. 32 against the slot walls which determines thepressure with which the edges of the blade to be sharpened are pressedagainst the honing surfaces in the operation of the Sharpener.

Fixedly carried by one of the channels 32 of the blade carriage supportis a pin 34, which is.

freely received by an aperture 35 in the other channel 32. This pin 34,which bridges the space between the channel backs (and servesv as thepivot for the blade carriage bell crank presently to be described) doesnot interfere with the lfunction of spring-web 33 to force the channels32, 32 firmly into engagement with the walls of slot 21 (see Fig. 3).

The blade carriage, indicated as a whole at 36, comprises an elongatedbody portion 31 which consists of a metal strip formed to give it'theshape of a narrow U in transverse sections,--the legs of this U beingprovided with oppositely turned horizontal flanges 3B-38. The lower lefthand corner (Fig. of the carriage body member 31 is preferably cut away,asV indicated at 39, to enable movement of said carriage to the extremeleft hand position indicated in Fig'. 2.

^ The right hand end (Fig. 5) of the carriage body member 31 is slottedto receive the lower and shorter arm of a curved leaf spring 40, whichhas its upper and longer arm disposed over the member 31 with a tendencyto press against the latter. The said lower'and shorter arm of the leafspring 40 is conveniently soldered in the slot by which it is received.Lying between carriage body member 31 and the upper arm of the spring40, and clamped to the former, and by the latter, is a bar 4l having thecross sectional shape of a shallow inverted U, this bar having anintegral upturned lug 42 which extends freely through a small aperturelocated near the extremity of the upper arm of the leaf spring 4D. Apair of spaced lugs 43, 43, turned upwardly from the right hand end(Fig. 5) of the bar 4| embrace the curved portion of the spring 46between them, and, with previously mentioned lug 42, maintain the bar 4|in substantial alignment with carriage body member 31 and the upper armof the said spring 4U.

It will be noted that a V-shaped notch 44 is cut in the lower edge ofthe carriage body member 31,-this notch serving to accommodate bellcrank lever 45 and the previously mentioned pin 34, whereby said bellcrank lever is pivoted to the channels 32, 32 of the blade carriagesupport 3l. One arm of this'bell crank lever 45 lies between the spacedwalls of the carriage body member 31 and is pivoted to the latter by pin46. The other arm of said bell crank lever is pivoted by pin 41 to thebifurcated extremity of an operating rod 48.

Operating rod 43 is arranged to slide freely through a bearing in theright hand end (Fig. 2) of the base,-said bearing being formed byopposed semi-cylindrical grooves molded in the base sections a and 20h.At its outer end rod 43 carries handle 49 and, midway between its ends,may be provided with an abutment 5S. Handle 49 is rotatably mounted onrod 48. The abutment 5i), in the present showing, has taken the form ofa partial sleeve soldered or otherwise fixed upon rod 48. Theengagements of handle 49 and abutment 50, respectively, with the outerand imier surfaces of the right hand (Fig. 2) end wall if the base,determine the reciprocation limits of rod 48.

The blade holder 5| comprises a bar having downturned lateral flanges52, 52 arranged to rest on the flanges 38, 38 of the blade carriage bodymember 31. Projecting upwardly from the upper surface of they bladeholder bar are spaced studs 53, 53 which are arranged to engage insuitable correspondingly shaped holes formed in a conventional two edgedsafety razor blade, indicated at 54. A flange 55 is preferably turned upat the left hand end (Fig. 6) of the blade holder bar to serve as ahandle wherewith to manipulate the blade holder onto and olf of theblade carriage previously mentioned. Flange 55 also serves as a stopwhen inserting the blade holder into the blade carriage.

When it is intended that the Sharpener of the present invention shallhandle safety razor blades of aplurality of styles and makes, thesharpencr will be equipped with a plurality of blade holders, each ofthese blade holders being provided with one or more lugs, correspondingto the studs 53, 53 previously mentioned, shaped and disposed tocooperate with the openings found in the particular style or make ofblade with which the holder is intended to cooperate.

In using the Sharpener just described, the blade toI be sharpened isplaced on its blade holder substantially as shown in Fig. 6. The lefthand end (Fig. 5) of the blade carriage bar 4l is then lifted againstthe pressure of spring 4B and the blade holder is slipped under said bar'4L-each edge of the razor blade occupying a position between the honingsurfaces (24a, 241) and 25a, 25h) if each pair of opposed honingsurfaces. The

lof

sharpeneris now readyto perform its function.

lThe handle 4S is'grasped and moved to its dotted line position from thefull line position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.* At the commencement `of thismovementfthe bell crank lever turns counterclockwise (Fig.` 2)`to raisetheblade carriage and firmly press the blade edges intoen-` gagementwiththe upperho'ning surfaces 24o and 25a,thc pressure -with which the-blade edges engage' the said honing surfaces being de" termined by theforce necessary to overcome the frictionlbetween the channels 32` 32 ofythe blade holder support' and the vertical Walls of the base slot 2l.When that friction is` overcome, `the blade carriage support, blade"carriage, blade` holder and'the blade are moved lto the right (Fig. 2),each bladeedge having sliding Contact,

thebase, the blade edgesmove overtheflower honing surfaces Mb vand25b-,`again in lines paral-f lel to said blade edges." i

recipfrocation of the handle 49 `continuestide blade edges, duringmovements of the handle in opposite directions,` alternately engagingthe upper and lower honing surfaces which define the channels which thebladeledges move, and always yieldingly'bearing against those honingsurfaces with pressures determined by the friction between the base `andthe blade holder support 3l. i Y

` In the embodimentfof my invention just described, the edge formingangles atiwhich the honing surfaces engage the razor blade aredetermined by the angularity of the honing surfaces to the two parallelplanes, upper and'lower, which the blade occupies and iniwhich it moveswhen reciprocating in oppositedirections.

`In Figf I have illustrated how the hones, of

Vthe type of-device depicted in the preceding gures, maybe formedintegral with the molded base sections by which said honesiare carried.Fig. 7 shows butone of these molded base sections having a hone formedintegral therewith. It may be assumed that the molded base section showninthe figure under discussion is formed from a moldable phenoliccondensation product having a` considerable amount ofsuitableabrasiveadmixed with it beforeV the performance of the moldingoperation. While in some cases it maybe possible to connethe abrasive tothe honeregion ofthe molded base section, itis usually notl practical todo so. Therefore, when I form the hones integral with their respectivebase sections, and `incorporate abrasive material `into the basesections as just-explained, I prefer to line the walls of thebase slot2'! with channels 5t, the purpose" of these channels being to beembraced by and to 'prevent `that undue wear of the blade icarriagefsupport channels 32 32 which would occur if such last mentioned channelswere in direct sliding contactiwith base sectionwalls having asubstantial amount of abrasive embedded therein, Otherwise than as justexplained a sharpener comprising base sections each havingan integralhone;- as depicted in Fig. '7, may be identical in construction andmodev of operationi With the Sharpener illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6. bothinclusive. 1 A i Inthe modified embodiment of my invention illustrated`inFigs. 8 to 15 inclusive, I provide a basell consisting of moldedcomplementary base sections Ello and h secured together and held inproper alignment by screws GI, Bl and key 62. This embodiment of theinvention also may be provided with a cover 63, of any suitablematerial, which is preferably removed when the Sharpener isin use. i

`Inthis form of my invention the spacedapart hohes S4 and E5, which arepreferably formed of natural or artificial stone, are held upon theirrespective base sections Sila and Gllb by screws 6E, Eli-it being foundadvantageous,c in order to keepthe hohes in precise alignment with theirrespective basel1 sections and with each other, to provide each hone onits lower surface with. an integral rib B5 which engages in acorrespondingly shaped slot formed in the upper surface of the basesection by'which such hone isV carried.

v"I'he spaced-apart lateral surfaces of the hones 64 and 55 areprovided" withgrooves or channels so thateach hone presents a pair ofopposed upper and lower honing surfaces,'-'the opposed upper and lowerhoning surfaces of the hone 64 being indicatedat `Sie, and'llib,respectively, and

` Y p l, thecorresp'onding honing surfaces of the hone 65 The operationsjustdescribed are repeated as being indicated attac and 652),respectively.

lInthis embodiment of my invention it is desirable to have the upper andlower honing surfaces of each honepa'rallel with each other, for thereason that the blade carriage, which servesrto shift; a blade to besharpened into and out of engagement withthese honing surfaces, tiltslaterally `on'its longitudinal axis, to determine the Vedge-`-fo1'mingangles between the blade to be sharpened and the honing surfaces withwhich its edge or edges engage in the operation of the Sharpener.

The base sections tea and Gill) are conformedto provide Athe elongatedchamber Si which has upwardly converging side walls, as is most clearlyshown in Fig. 10. Chamber 6l opens upwardly, betweenthe hohes, through aslot 68. The opposed surfaces of the base sections which define baseslot 68 are vertical and parallel for cooperation with the bladecarriage support next to be described.M

The blade carriage support, indicated as a whole at 6e, comprises asingle vpiece of sheet metal conformed to provide aligned spaced-apart`rod guides lll, l, webs lll; liwhich bear yieldingly but withsubstantial pressure against the walls of base slot 68, and downwardlydiverging flanges l2, 72, which bear against the upwardly convergingwalls` of base chamber 6l', to prevent the` escape of the said bladecarriage support from the base wherein and wherecn itreciprocates.

The blade carriage indicated as a whole at 13 comprises a metal straplid, which is turned back upon itself,v as indicated at to provide aspring arm T8, which in turn is provided near its free end withlaterally projecting lugs 11, Tl. These Iugs Tl, 'l'i engage incorrespondingly shaped apertures formed in a pair of spaced-apart lugsS, 78, which are struck upwardly from a channel member 19. Channelmember i9, which serves as a clampfor the blade and -blade holderpresentlyto be mentioned, is urged, by spring arm T5, toward the loweror body portion of the blade carriage strap 'M w Y soldered to the undersurface of the lower or 8| of an operating rod 82, which, except at itstwisted portion, is of square cross section.

The twisted portion 8| of the operating rodv cooperates with nut 8U andextends freely through the rod guides '10, l0 of the blade carriagesupport. Turning of the rod 82 about its longitudinal axis is preventedby a bearing 83, of sheet metal, which slidingly embraces the rod 82 atthe right hand end (Fig. 2) of the base. This bearing 83 is held snuglyin recesses formed in those opposed surfaces of the base sectionsbetween which said bearing is disposed (Fig. 11). At its outer end rod82 is provided with the operating handle 84, the latter being rotatableon the former.

The blade holder of the Sharpener under discussion comprises channelmember 85, the flanges of which are arranged to embrace the lateraledges of the lower or body portion of the blade carriage strap 74. Theblade holder channel is provided at its left hand end (Fig. 15) with anupturned flange 86 to serve as a handle for manipulating the bladeholder into and out of the blade carriage. Flange 86 also serves as astop when inserting the holder into the carriage. The blade holderchannel is also provided on its upper surface with a circular stud 8land a generally A-shaped stud 88 for the reception by the aperturesformed in a familiar style of safety razor blade, indicated at 89, whichhas but one sharpened edge.

In order to sharpen the blade 89, it is placed on blade holder channel85, as indicated in Fig. 15, and the blade holder, with the bladethereon, is slipped under the blade carriage channel 19, with theflanges of the blade holder channel embracing the lateral edges of thelower or body portion of the blade carriage strap member |4.

The proper insertion of the blade holder into the blade carriage causesthe sharpened edge of the blade 89 to lie in the channel formed by theupper and lower honing surfaces 64a and 64b o-f the hone 64. It will beunderstood, of course, that the blade 89 might be of a type having twosharpened edges, in which event the second of its sharpened edges wouldlie in the channel of the hone E5 for cooperation with the upper andlower honing surfaces 65a and 65h of said hone.

The blade is sharpened by reciprocating the handle 84 from one to theother of its dotted line positions, indicated in Fig. 8.

It may be assumed, for the purpose of drawing description, that thehandle 84 is being reciprocated from its full line position to the lefthand one of its dotted line positions indicated in Fig. 8. With thehandle so moving the blade carriage is tilted to the position indicatedin Fig, 10, due to the engagement of the nut 80 with the threadedportion 8| of the rod 82, and the sharpened edge of the razor bladebears against the lower honing surfaces 64b with the pressure determinedby the force necessary to cause the blade carriage support 69, and partscarried thereby, to slide on and relative to the base, despite itsfrictional engagement with the latter.

When the handle '|4 has moved to the right (Fig. 8), the engagement ofthe nut 80 with the twisted portion 8| of the operating rod tilts theblade carriage through a few degrees, in a clock-- wise direction fromthe position sho-wn in Fig. 10,

to cause the sharpened edge of the blade to leave the honing surface 64band engage the honing surface 64a with a pressure that can be determinedby the sliding friction between the blade carriage support 69 and thebase.

As the handle 84 continues to be reciprocated in opposite directions,the sharpened edge of the blade alternately engages the honing surfaces64a .and 64b, and while engaging such honing surfaces moves with respectthereto in a line parallel to such edge. The edge-forming angle of theblade andthe honing surface which it is engaging in either of itsreciprocatory movements, is determined by the tilt of the blade carriagewith respect to the planes of the honing surfaces which, in the presentembodiment of my invention, are all horizontal.

Having thus illustrated and described my invention in two preferredembodiments thereof, I do not limit myself to the details ofconstruction herein described and illustrated, but, to the contrary,desire to secure all embodiments of my invention falling within thescope o-f the appended claims. 1

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a pair of opposed honing surfacesdefining a channel, a blade carriage mounted for reciprocation on thebase and arranged to support and move a blade with an edge in saidchannel, means for reciprocating the carriage, and carriage shiftingmechanism, responsive to movements of the aforesaid reciprocating means,functioning to effect a complete lateral shift of the carriage at rightangles to the direction of its reciprocation to place the edge of ablade carried by said carriage in contact with said honing surfaces,alternately, when the reciprocating means is actuated to move thecarriage in opposite directions, each lateral shift of the carriage, asaforesaid, accomplishing a movement of its axis laterally.

2. A razor blade Sharpener comprising a base, a pair of parallelspaced-apart hones supported by the base, razor blade edge receivingchannels formed in the sides of said hones which are presented to eachother, a blade carriage operating between said hones and arranged tocarry a blade with an edge thereof in each of said channels, a'carriagesupport having frictional sliding engagement with the base, a bell crankpivoted to said carriage support and having one arm thereof pivoted tothe blade carriage, and an operating rod to which the other end of saidbell crank is pivoted, substantially as described.

3. In a razor blade sharpener, a base, a pair of parallel spaced-aparthones supported by the base, razor blade edge receiving channels formedin the sides of said hones which face each other, a blade carriageoperating between said hones, a blade carriage support for slidingfrictional engagement with the base, said blade carriage supportproviding spaced-apart guides for an operating rod, an operating rodhaving a threaded portion occupying said guides, and a nut carried bythe blade carriage located between said guides and cooperating with thethreaded portion of the operating rod to tilt the blade carriage aboutsaid rod as an axis prepartory to reciprocating movements of thecarriage and carriage support accomplished by movements of saidoperating rod.

4.111 a razor blade Sharpener, the combination of a base, a pair ofhoning surfaces carried by Aaooaoet the base and defining a bladeedgereceiving channel, a blade `carriagereciprocably mounted on thebase, means for reciprocating the blade carriage, and carriageshiftingmechanism responsive to actuation of the reciprocating means arrangedand adapted to .cause an edge of the blade carried by said carriage toengage one and then the other of said honing surfaces as the carriage isreciprocated, said Vcarriage shifting mechanism comprising a bladecarriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base anda lever pivoted to said blade carriage support constituting an`operating connection between the blade carriage and the carriagereciprocating means.

5. In a razor blade sharpener, a base, a blade carriage, a bladecarriagesupport having frictional sliding engagement with the base, said bladecarriage being articulated with the blade carriage support for movementrelativelyA to said blade carriage support, a pair of honing surfacesstationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for thereception of an edge of a razor blade carried by said bladev carriage,and operating devices, connected with said blade carriage and bladecarriage support, arrangedand adapted when actuated simultaneously to`reciprocate said blade carriage and said blade carriage support, andshift the blade carriagerrelatively to the blade carriage support, priorto each reversal of reciprocatory movement, to move an edge'of the bladeaway fromV one of said honing surfaces and place and hold said edgeagainst the other of said honing surfaces with a honing pressuredetermined by that friction-between the base and the blade carriagesupport, which must be overcome before the blade carriage support andblade `carriage are reciprocated.' Y'

6. In a razor blade sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in said base,an expansible blade carriage support having portions extending into saidslot and bearing against the wallsrthereof fric,- tionally to opposerelative sliding movementbetween `the base and said blade carriagesupport, a blade carriage mounted on and shiftable with respect to saidblade carriage support, a pair of honing surfaces stationarily carriedby the base and defining a channel for the reception i of an edge of arazor blade mounted on said blade carriage, and operating devicesconnected with said blade carriage support and said blade carriage toreciprocate the same and shift said blade carriage relative to saidblade carriage support prior to each reciprocatory movement to effectthe movement of the blade edge from one to the other of said honingsurfaces.

'7. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in said base,a chamber in the base with which said slot communicates, a blade ,car`riage support which comprises a pair of friction members bearing againstthe walls of saidslot and an expansible member occupying said basechamber and tending to press said friction members against the walls ofsaid slot, a blade carriage mounted on and shiftable with respect tosaid blade carriage support, a. pair of honing surfaces stationarilycarried by the base and dening a channel for the reception of an edge ofa razor blade mounted on said blade carriage, and operating devicesconnected with said blade carriage support and said blade carriage toreciprocate said last mentioned elements and shift said blade carriagerelative to said blade carriage support prior to each reciprocatorymovement to effect the movement of the blade edge from one to the otherof said honing surfaces.

t 8. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in the base,a chamber in the base with which said slot communicates, a bladecarriage "i support having a pairY of spaced friction members extendinginto said slot and provided withr offset terminal portions occupyingsaid chamber, a spring-web connecting said friction members and .tendingto press the same against the Awalls of saidslot, a blade carriagemounted'on and shiftable-with respect to said blade carriage support, apair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining achannel for the reception of an edge of a razor blade mounted on saidblade carriage, and operating devices con1 nected with said bladecarriage support and said blade carriage to reciprocate the elementslast mentioned and shift said blade carriage relative to said bladecarriage support, prior to each reciprccatory movement, to effect themovement of the blade edge from one to the other of said honingsurfaces. i i

9. PIn a razor blade Sharpener, a base, an elongated slot in the. base,a blade carriage support comprising a vpair of spaced friction-membershaving corresponding edgesV joined by a spaced pair of substantiallycylindrical springwebs', said friction members occupying said slot andbeing pressed against the walls of the slot by said springwebs, anon-rotatable threaded operating rod.` occupying said spring-webs andbridgingthe space between them, a blade carriage disposed above saidblade carriage support and provided witlra nutcooperating with thethreaded rod,

on'the base, means for reciprocating the blade carriage, and carriageshifting mechanism, re# sponsive to actuation of the reciprocatingmeans, arranged and adapted to cause an edge of the blade carried bysaid carriage to engage first 'one and then the other of said honingsurfaces as the carriage is reciprocated, said carriage shiftingmechanism comprising a blade carriage support having frictional slidingengagement with the base and a lever pivoted to said blade carriagesupport constituting an operating connection between the 'blade carriageand the carriage reciproeating means.` C

` 11.111 a `razor blade Sharpener, a blade carriage comprising anelongated bodymember,` a leaf spring'having `one end thereof attached tcone end of said body member, the other end of the leaf spring overlyingsaid body member, a clamping bar which is of inverted U shape intransverse cross section, said clamping bar being carried by the freeend of said leaf spring and being by the latter pressed toward the uppersurface of said body member, and a blade holder of inverted U shape intransverse cross section adapted to lie between said clamping bar andthe body mem` ber, and to embrace said body member, and pro`- jectionson the upper surface of the blade holder adapted to project throughapertures in a razor blade, said projections being received by theU-shaped clamping bar when the blade holder is positioned between theclamping bar and the body member.

12. In a razor blade Sharpener, a blade carriage comprising a bodymember provided at one end with an integral spring arm turned back tooverlie said body member, a clamping bar of inverted U shape intransverse cross section pivoted to the free end of said spring arm andbeing by the latter urged toward said body member, a blade holder ofinverted U shape in transverse cross section adapted to lie between thebody member and the clamping bar and to embrace the body member, andprojections on the upper surface of the blade holder adapted to projectthrough apertures in a razor blade disposed on said holder, saidprojections being received in the channel of the clamping bar when theblade holder is disposed between the clamping bar and the body memberand is embracing the latter.

13. In a razor blade Sharpener, a blade carriage comprising a bodymember, a curved leaf spring extending from one end of the body memberand being turned to overlie said body member, a clamping bar of invertedU shape in transverse cross section disposed over said body member andcarried by that portion of the leaf spring which overlies the bodymember, said leaf spring tending to urge said clamping bar toward saidbody member, and a blade holder of inverted U shape in transverse crosssection adapted to embrace the body member and to lie between the latterand the clamping bar, and projections carried by the upper surface ofthe blade holder adapted to extend through apertures in a razor blade,said projections being received in the channel of the clamping bar whenthe blade holder is embracing the body member and is clamped to thelatter by means of the clamping bar and its associated leaf spring.

14. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a. blade carriage, a bladecarriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base, apair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining achannel for the reception of a razor blade carried by said bladecarriage, and operating devices, connected with said blade carriage andsaid blade carriage support, arranged and adapted when actuatedsimultaneously to reciprocate said blade carriage and said bladecarriage support and shift the blade carriage relatively to the bladecarriage support, prior to each reversal of reciprocatory movement, tomove an edge of the blade away from one of said honing surfaces andplace and hold said edge against the other of said honing surfaces witha honing pressure determined by that friction, between the base and theblade carriage support, which must be overcome before the blade carriagesupport and blade carriage are reciprocated, the aforesaid operatingdevices comprising an actuating rod, mounted for reciprocationrelatively to the base,

and a lever, said lever being pivotally connected with each of the rod,blade carriage support, and blade carriage.

15. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a blade carriage, a bladecarriage support having frictional sliding engagement with the base, apair of honing surfaces stationarily carried by the base and defining achannel for the reception of a razor blade carried by said bladecarriage, and operating devices, connected with said blade carriage andsaid blade carriage support, arranged and adapted when actuatedsimultaneously to reciprocate said blade carriage and said bladecarriage support and laterally tilt the blade carriage relatively to theblade carriage support, prior to each reversal of reciprocatorymovement, to move an edge of the blade away from one of said honingsurfaces and place and hold said edge against the other of said honingsurfaces with a honing pressure determined by that friction, between the,l

base and the blade carriage support, which must be overcome before theblade carriage support and blade carriage are reciprocated, theaforesaid operating devices comprising an actuating rod mounted forreciprocation relatively to the base, :i

means for preventing rotation of said actuating rod, a nut carried bythe blade carriage, and a threaded element carried by the actuating rodand cooperating with said nut.

16. In a razor blade Sharpener, a base, a blade carriage support mountedon and reciprocable with respect to the base, a blade carriage mountedon said blade carriage support for movement relative to the latter, anoperating member con nected with said blade carriage support and saidblade carriage, said operating member being capable of alternatemovements in opposite directions, instrumentalities cooperating withsaid blade carriage support, blade carriage and operating member andadapted, on reversal of movement of such operating member, to effect,rstly, relative movement between blade carriage and blade carriagesupport, and, secondly, movement in unison of blade carriage support andblade carriage relatively to the base, a pair of honing surfaces,stationarily carried by the base and defining a channel for thereception of an edge of a razor blade carried by said blade carriage,one of said honing surfaces being engaged by said blade edge duringmovements in unison of the blade carriage and blade carriage support inone direction, and the other of said honing surfaces being engaged bysaid blade edge during movements in unison of the blade carriage andblade carriage support in the opposite direction, and resilient frictionmembers acting between the base and blade carriage support to preventreversals of movement of blade carriage support with respect to the baseuntil a preceding movement of the blade carriage with respect to theblade carriage support has shifted the blade edge from one to the otherof said honing surfaces.

WILLIAM LUXMORE.

